Conveyer apparatus and supporting mechanism therefor



June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 2,642,934

CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed Feb.21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOE 5TAN LEY M. MEEC'IEE,

I Hr?- x June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original FiledFeb. 21, 1950 f/v vE/v TO/Q; STANLEY M. MEECIEE) uumm ATTY.

June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 2,642,984 CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTINGMECHANISM THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Original Filed Feb. 21, 1950 mm m Wm iv R g l Patented June 23, 1953CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Stanley M. Mercier,Bexley, Ohio, assignor to The Jefirey Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Ohio Original application February 21, 1950, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 14,1951, Serial No. 215,499

6 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a conveyer and supportingapparatus therefor, and one of its objects is to provide apparatus inwhich a conveyer,

or section thereof, is provided with front and rear frame supportingaxles each preferably, but not necessarily, provided with individualcrawler type traction means at opposite ends of each of said axlesadapted to propel the conveyer rectilinearly and to guide it.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as abovementioned in which one or more jacks, such as hydraulic jacks, areemployed to adjust the conveyer, or conveyer section, as the case maybe, relative to at least one of the axles so as to maintain the conveyerframe level transversely as the unit moves over uneven ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism forinterconnecting a frame with a supporting axle therefor, which mechanismprovides for pivotal movement of the frame or axle on a horizontal axisand on an upright axis while providing for relative movement of theframe and axle along the upright axis.

In carrying out the foregoing object, it is another object of theinvention to provide the adjustable means between the frame and axlethat supports the frame from the latter-and preferably, but notnecessarily, to provide mechanism responsive to relative movement of theframe and axle on the mentioned upright axis for adjusting theadjustable support means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various controldevices, such as control switches, between the frame and. atleast one ofthe axles of the conveyer, andin the most specific aspect of theinvention there are three sets of these control'switches, or the like,one set controlling the maximum angular swing between said axle andframe on a longitudinal horizontal axis, another controlling the swingbetween said axle and frame on an upstanding axis, and anothercontrolling the up and down movement of the frame relative to said axlealong said upstanding axis.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side eleva tional view of aninstallation incorporating features of my invention, showingparticularly the stacker boom and its association with the head sectionof a trailing conveyer Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with certain partsomitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, with parts omitted and parts brokenaway and with other parts shown in section, showing particularly theconnection between the trailing conveyer head section frame and thefront axle or axle assembly;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the structure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the head section of the trailing conveyer;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing particularly one of the crawler tractiondevices in association with the front axle or front axle assembly of thetrailing conveyer head section; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being showntherein in elevation.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.145,501, filed February 21, 1950, for Conveyer Apparatus Including aPortable Stacker and Connected Portable Trailing Conveyer. It is to beunderstood that the construction and operation of the apparatus of thisapplication follows that of my parent application, above identified, andthat only the subject matter pertinent to the present invention isdiscussed herein in detail.

The conveyer stacker system herein disclosed, which incorporatesimportant aspects of my invention, includes a stacker I9 attached to atrail? ing conveyer having a head section II. The stacker l 0 includes astacker boomor main frame l2 having a head or discharge pulley l3 overwhich the material, such as waste dirt or the like, is discharged and atail or rear end pulley l4, between which pulleys l3 and M anendless-power driven belt I 5 extends which may be driven in any desiredmanner from the driving motor, such as an electric motor, or the like.

Generally centrally of the frame or boom l2 there is a supportingtractor I 6 which supports said boom I 2 and which may be operated toswine, it through a large are as well as feed it rectilineraly forwardlyor rearwardly as material is discharged over the head pulley l3. Thegeneral arrangement of the tractor l6 and boom l2 may take any desiredor recognized form. For example, it may follow the constructiondisclosed in my application, Serial No. 74,348, filed February 3, 1949,now Patent No. 2,632,558, dated March 24, 1953.

The trailing conveyer head section I I constiand over a head pulley 2|at the front or headend of the head section II.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the return run of the belt 26is preferably reeved about a plurality of drive pulleys 22 which arepower driven. The belt is supported on spaced troughing idlers 23, manyof which are carried by the head section II and others by the trai1- ingportion of the trailing conveyor substantially throughout its entirelength.

One form of construction, particularly of the rear portion of thetrailing conveyer, which :may

be employed, together with mechanism :for loading ,it, is disclosed .inthe application of Gust Weggum, Serial No. 80,695,.fi1edMarch 10,11-949.,

-now Patent No. 2,554,077., .dated May 22, 1951.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thetrailing conveyer head section II preferably is positioned above therails or track [9 and is supported entirely independently thereof, withthe trailing portion of said trailing conveyer pulled along said railsl9 as the complete system advances forwardly, between which intermittentforward movements the stacker Iii swings through a desired arc todischarge its dirt.

The trailing conveyerhead section H generally resembles a crocodile andincludes an elongated generally horizontal main frame '24 which slopesslightly upwardly and forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. Frame 24 is fabricated from longitudinally, vertically,diagonally and transversely extending angles, plates, channels and thelike. Of particular significance is the fact that it includes a pair ofbolster and axle or axle frame assemblies which are of similarconstruction, except for differences hereinafter mentioned, there beinga'forward or front bolster and axle assembly, as seen .particularly inFigs. 2, 6, and 7 of the drawings, which includes a front axle or axleframe 25, the generally similar rear bolster and axle assembly includingaxle or axle frame 26 (see 'Fig. '5).

.As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, at the front .end ofthe trailing conveyer head section I I there is a .bolster 21 comprisinga'transversely extending box-like member built up of plates and anles'welded together, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Thebolster 21 may carry a leveling device 28 responsive to the transverselevel of the head section H, which device may operate upon thesameprinciple as the leveling device shown and described in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,101,837, to L. E. Blanchett.

Adjacent the transverse center of the frame 24 the bolster 21 isprovided with a heavy down wardly extending pivot 'or "king pin 29rigidly attached to the bolster 27 and providing a pivotal and slidingconnection with a trunion 30 (see Fig. "7) which provides a pivotalconnection to the axle or axle frame 25 through forward and. rearwardcooperating bearings 31 carried by removable forward and rearward plates34, this pivotal trunnion connection being along the longitudinal axisof the trailing conveyer headset:- tion H and being substantiallyhorizontal.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. '7, the bottom of the king pin 29 isjournaled on an upright axis in the trunnion 30 so as to provide forrelative swinging movement between the frame 24 and the axle 25 aboutsaid upright axis which is at center of said axle 25. Furthermore, thispivotal connection provides for limited relative up and down or verticalmovement between the king pin 29 and the trunnion 30 by virtue of thefact that the vertical dimension of the trunnion at the point ofconnection is less than the distance between top and bottom limit plates3; and .33 carried by this interconnecting portion of said kingpin 29and said trunnion 3%.

As hereinafter described more completely, this vertical or up and downmovement is provided between the king ,pin 29 and the trunnion 39soth'at under normal conditions the load on the front portion of thehead section it will be transmitted to the front axle or axle framethrough tilted controlling jacks. The rear axle or axle frame 26preferably receivesits load. from the conveyer .head section frame 24directly through the .rear Tking pin which is similar to lking pin .29.

Extending upwardly from the central portion of the trunnion 30 is acylindrical sleeve 35 to which a strap 36 is removably attached by apair of U-shaped bands 31. The strap 36 carries control devices 38 atopposite ends thereof, said control devices illustrated being electricalswitches with projectingoperating levers or arms adapted to 'be operatedby operating mechanisms carried by the axle frame 25 which, as.illustrated, are adjustable angle brackets 39. The angle brackets '39are adapted to operate the switches 38 selec tively in any case wherethe'relative tilt or angular movement of the .frame 24 with respect tothe axle '25 on the longitudinal horizontal axis of trunnion .30 reachesa predetermined angle on either side of the right angle relation, sugestedby Fig. l of the drawings.

Above the strap '36 the sleeve '35 carries a disclike plate '40 which onone side is provided with an adjustable projecting finger 4| adaptedselectively to actuate 'control devices in the form of forward andrearward switches 42 carried by the bolster 21 and projecting downwardlytherefrom, said switches '42 'having operating levers or arms adapted tobe selectively contacted and operated by the finger 4| whenever thefront axle frame 25 rotates in either of opposite-directions through apredetermined angle from a position transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the head section II.

The disc or plate '40 carries a rearwardly ex tending projecting plate48 (see Figs. 3 and 7) adapted to abut the bottoms .'of a pair of spacedupright rods 44 which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in apair of upper and lower brackets 45 and 46 attached to the rear of thebolster 21 and housed within a housing 47 which is open at the bottomand is 'r'emovably attached to the rear of said bolster 21. Spring means48 cooperates with the rods 44 to maintain their bottoms in contact withthe plate 43.

Adjacent the bottoms of the rods 44 there is a bracket 49 rigidlyattached to said rods, upon which a Selsyn transmitter 50 is mounted.The rotor of the Selsyntr-ansmitter 50 is operated by a cable 5|, theopposite ends of which are attached to the plate 40 (see Fig. 3), whichcable 5| drives alpulley 52 keyed to the rotor shaft of the Selsyntransmitter 50. Angular movement of the axle assembly 25 about theupright axis of the king pin 29 therefore produces rotary motion of therotor of the Selsyn transmitter 50 which is part of a telemetric system,the receiver of which may be located adjacent an operators station,thereby indicating the angular position of the front axle 25 relative toa true transverse position.

One of the rods 44 is also provided witha pair of stops 53 which operatecontrol devices in the form of lever operated switches 54 (Fig. '7)carried by a bracket 55 (see Fig. 3) attached to the bolster 2?. In casethe king pin 29 moves to its lowermost position, as illustrated in Fig.7, the upper control switch 54 will be actuated. Should said king pin 29be elevated to its uppermost position relative to the trunnion 30 thelower switch 54 will be actuated.

The rear end of the stacker l is'suspended from the front of the headsection H. Consequently some of the load on said stacker I0 is carriedby the front axle 25. Preferably this load is transferred through theframe 24 of the head section H to the front axle frame 25 through a pairof double acting hydraulic jacks 56 (see Fig. 2), one on each side ofsaid frame 24 and axle 25. The upper and lower control switches 54control the operation of the jacks 55 and these hydraulic jacks 55 arepreferably normally expanded to such an extent that no compression loadis trans- Initted from the bolster 27 to the axle frame 25. Under thesecircumstances the rods 44 will have their stops 53 so positioned thatneither of the control switches 54 is actuated but each said switch willbe in its normal or neutral position. This eliminates the necessity of aheavy thrust bearing to take the load between the relatively adjustablefront axle 25 and the bolster 2?.

It is, of course, obvious since axle 25 is swingable upon an uprightaxis relative to the head section frame 24 that opposite ends of thehydraulic jacks must be pivotally connected to the frame 24 and the axle25, respectively. To this end universal ball and socket joints 5'! areprovided to interconnect the upper and lower ends of both of thehydraulic jacks 55 to the head section frame 24 and axle frame 25,respectively.

It may be stated that the rear axle frame 26 is preferably connected tothe head section frame 25 through a bolster and associated king pin andtrunnion mechanism similar to that above described and disclosed inFigs. 3, 4, 6, and '7 of the drawings, except, however, the controlswitches 5 and their operating mechanism are eliminated and there are nojacks comparable with the jacks 56. As a consequence, at the rear end ofthe head section l i there is a direct bearing transfer between thebolster (similar to bolster 2'!) and the axle frame 25. This load istransferred through a king pin plate similar to the plate 32 and thecooperating bearing surface on the central portion of the trunnionsimilar to trunnion Bil which is provided with appropriate lubricationor grease grooves as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The loadtransferred at this point is not as heavy as that transferred to thefront axle 25.

At their opposite ends the front and rear axle frames 25 and 25 carrysubstantially similar selfpropelled traction units 58 which, asillustrated, are of the crawler type, including endless crawlers 55adapted to have direct contact withthe ground. It is to be understood aswithin the scope of my invention in some of its aspects to employ othertypes of ground engaging traction.

means, such as one or more power driven pneumatic tired wheels, or, insome instances the head section II may be mounted upon rails and railengaging traction wheels provided for supporting said head section andfeeding it along a generally rectilinear line.

The traction units 58 are, per se, of essentially standard design andeach includes a longitudinally extending frame journaled atsubstantially the center thereof on a stub axle 60 (see Fig. 6) whichprojects laterally from the box-like portion of the axle frame 25 or 26.Thus each traction unit 58 is free to pivot on a transversely extendinggenerally horizontal axis. The lower run of each endless crawler 59travels over a plurality of load transferring wheels and each endlesscrawler 59 is driven from a rear driving sprocket 6| through appropriatereduction gearing including a speed reducer 62 driven from an electricmotor 63.

It may be mentioned that in Fig. 2 of the drawings only one of thedriving motors and drive gearing is shown, it being understood that thetraction unit 58 on the right hand side is a complete unit which issubstantially a duplicate of that on the left hand side. It is evidentthat if one of the traction units 58 at one end of either of the shafts25 or 26 travels at a different rate from that at the other end thetendency will be to swing the shaft 25 or 26, as the case may be, aboutits upright axis and to guide the associated portion of the head sectionH in one direction or other away from the strictly rectilinear orstraight ahead direction of travel. In other words, the steering of thevery heavy clon gated trailing conveyer head section l l is effected bywhat is the equivalent of a four wheel steer, since all of the tractiondevices have a steering characteristic.

It is evident from the description so far given that the stacker l0 andthe trailing head section I! are intended to travel over the groundwhich in some instances may be a soil or refuse pile which has beenformed by a preceding run of the apparatus. The various pivotalmovements and adjusting mechanism above described are de signedparticularly to keep the trailing head sec-- tion H level transverselyas the head section and/or the stacker move over uneven ground. The rearportion of the trailing conveyer is maintained substantially level sinceit travels on tracks I9 which may be laid and maintained in asubstantially level position. As previously suggested, in some instancesit may be desirable also to mount the trailing conveyer head section Hon rails, in which case some of the control meche anism, including thesteering and leveling mechanism, may be eliminated.

In the operation of a typical complete instal lation involving myinvention, material to be removed, such as the overburden of a coal oriron 'ore open pit, or dirt to be transferred inthe construction of adam, retaining wall, or the like, will be fed to the trailing conveyersomewhere rearwardly of the head section H thereof by any desired means,such, for example. as that disclosed in the Weggum Patent No. 2,55%,077,above identified. The material will be conveyed longitudinallyrectilinearly forward through the head section H and discharged from thebelt 283 over the head pulley 2!, from where it will be directed by achute to the belt 15 of the stacker [6 adjacent the rear or tail pulleyi i thereof. The material will be conveyed by the conveyer belt I5 anddischarged over the head shaft 1 3 of the -stacker. 110.: illustrated inFig. '1 of the drawings, the system is discharging material while makinga return run. That .is, the system will gradually move to the right,having previously formed a soil pile by having moved to the left, asviewed in Fig. .1. As the material :is discharged over the head pulleyl3 the boom ID will be swung through an are which may .be .of the orderof 180, more .or less; this swinging movement being about an uprightaxis provided by a turntable -54, indicated :in Figs. 1 and '5 of thedrawings.

Between successive swings of the boom Hi or simultaneously therewiththere will be rectilinear feeding, either forward or rearward, of "thecomplete trailing conveyer including the head section 11, depending'upon whether the system is moving forward to form a soil stack or isprogressing rearwardly from "a previously formed stack. In either case,the rectilinear feeding of the system along the longitudinal axis of thetrailing conveyer, including that of the :head section ll I, will beeffected :by the traction units 58 which :also can steer-the trailingconveyer head section .H so as to turn it during its generallyrectilinear longitudinal movement.

As illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings the trailing conveyersupporting rails 13 extend forwardly of the trailing head section II,but under some conditions the reverse of this will be true and :saidtrailing .conveyer head section II will extend in part or entirelybeyond the'forwardmost ends .of said rails 19 which will provide forgreater latitude of turning movement thereof. Control means is providedto maintain the trailing conveyer head section 11 in substantiallytransverse :horizontal position at all times regardless of theirregularities of the surface over which the traction devices '58 aretraveling within certain reasonable limits.

The transverse stability imparted to the trailing head section H is, .ofcourse, transmitted to the boom frame [.2 through the turntable 54.Control mechanism in the form of the several switches 38 and 42 isprovided to indicate whenever undesirable angular relations existbetween the :axles 25 and the frame 24. The specific system by whichthese controls are utilized is the subject matter of my 'copendingapplication, Serial No. 185,425,, filed September .18, 1950.

As hereinbefore mentioned the hydraulic jacks 56 are preferably normallyexpanded to such an extent that no compression load .is transmitted fromthe bolster 2-! to the axle frame 25 and under these circumstancesneither of the control switches 54 is actuated, and each is in itsnormal or neutral position. It will, of course, be seen that should thebolster 2:! move downwardly along the "upright axis of king pin .29 thatthe stops on one of the rods :44 will actuate the upper switch 54 whichwill cause the jacks 56 to expand and lift the frame 24 and boltser 21upwardly and away from the axle '25. When the bolster has moved upwardlya pre-determined distance the upper switch '54 will be operated to itsnormal or neutral position 'and hydraulic fluid under pressure will .nolonger be fed to said jacks 56 and upward movement of the frame 24 andbolster 21 will cease. Of course, if for any reason the bolster '21moves upwardly along the axis of king pin 29 thereby causing actuationof the upper switch 54, then the jacks 55 will be operated to lower thebolster 21.

Obviously those skilled in the .art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of 8 parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, andapplicant therefore wishes not to be restricted to the preciseconstruction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of the invention, what itis desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center .of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on anupstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstandingaxis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said mainframe, a conveyer supported on said frame, a said axle, for selectivelyadjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivotingsaid mainframe relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, andcontrol means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative upor down movement between said axle and said frame.

2. conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on "a horizontal axis and on anupstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstandingaxis, independently operable load carrying jack-s between said mainframe and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectivelyadjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivotingsaid main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, andcontrol means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relativeupward movement between said axle and said frame.

3. Couveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on anupstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstandingaxis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frameand said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectivelyadjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivotingsaid main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis,andcontrol'means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relativedownward movement between said axle and said frame.

4. Conveyor mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on anupstanding :axis and for relative up and down movement on saidupstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between saidmainframe and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, forselectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle andfor pivoting said main frame relative to said axle nn said horizontalaxis, and control means for said jacks operable .upon a predeterminedrelative movement between said axle and said frame.

5. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on anupstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstandingaxis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frameand said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectivelyadjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivotingsaid main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, controlmeans for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative movementbetween said axle and said frame, and control means operable upon apredetermined pivotal movement between said main frame and said axlewhich results in an undesirable angular relation between them, saidcontrol means forming a part of a system for at least indicating saidundesirable relation.

6. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported onsaid frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, meansinterconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of thelatter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, independentlyoperable load carrying jacks between said main frame and said axle, oneadjacent each end of said axle, for pivoting said main frame relative tosaid axle on said horizontal axis, and control means operable upon apredetermined pivotal movement between said mainframe and said axlewhich results in an undesirable angular relation between them, saidcontrol means forming a part of a system for at least indicating saidundesirable relation.

STANLEY M. MERCIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

